GK3’s AAIO - All All in One

[GK3]

5 years ago I wanted a reef tank but couldn’t have a large one because of cost and I was moving around a lot. So I grabbed a 2.5 gallon aqueon and made an all in one. Now I liked a reef aquarium but I hated the maintenance. I ended up busting out my engineering skills and building an integrated controller to keep water stable and maintenance low. Actually ended up working really well and ran for 2.25 years with no crashes or resets. Currently I have a 50 gal system that utilizes all apex components for automation. But I am bored and decided to build what I am calling the AAIO - it’s going to be an all all in one pico reef (name is a work in progress) where the second “all” is because it integrates controller, dosing, ATO, and a web interface.

Now I see a lot of people doing the reef pie builds. Problem is these controllers end up huge (size wise) and I need to keep it inside a pico aquarium. I don’t want to have the tank and then a separate cabinet for electronics. It will be all integrates in the good/canopy combo. I’ll be basing this off arduino.

For the tank I was going to order glass and build it but then I found the innovative marine black 6 gal frag tank.

For lights, I will have a refugium light from innovative as well as the new wave line halo blade light. 9”, Deep blue and 10K. Love they made this with two switches.

Plan is to do bare bottom and grow a Zoa garden with other softies on the live rock. Thinking of doing a few sexy shrimp and a panda goby.

The left side of the tank will he walled off and will house mechanical filter, media rack, heater, and return pump. Right side will be walled off to house a refugium with macro and another return pump.

Lid will hold 3 dosing pumps, 1 for ATO and then alk and calc.

I plan to build the stand and canopy out of black 80/20 and white acrylic. ATO res will be under the tank and electronics will be above. Everything else will be 3D printed abs plastic.

Start of electronics are on order from amazon. Seeing if LfS has tank in stock.

Will post CAD later.

Lmk what you think.

 

[reef lover]

Sounds awesome! Following!

 

[GK3]

First two renderings and question.

I am going to have two false walls. The left will hold the heater, chem/bio/mechanical filtration, and pump. The right will have the refugium behind it. So my question is, should I give the refugium it's own pump (low GPH) or should I have a pipe coming out of my return (as pictured below) and feed the refugium. I'd prefer just one pump, but then as I started thinking by the time the water hits the refugium, it will have already gone through chem, bio, and mechanical filtration. Seems like it's defeating the point of the refugium will ultimately starve the refugium. Thoughts? My plan it to leave the glass around the refugium open as a mini display refigum and grow colored macro (no chaeto).

Also interested in any suggestions on a heater for this. Has to be less than 7.5" tall (8" is absolute max).

 

[GK3]

First CAD update. It's all 1"x1" 8020. No Panels shown yet and the electronics box will sit in the middle of the hood above the lights.

 

[GK3]

Have most everything ordered, some has already showed up.

Innovative marine refugium LED

Wave point new blade LED 50/50

6 gallon innovative marine tank

All the crazy supplies for the controls and dosing. This came from Adafruit, sainsmart, and sparkfun.

Hydor Theo 50W heater

SicceMicra Plus for the Reututn pump

I also ordered the small amount of plumbing from McMaster Carr and pvc fittings online. Using 1/4” to feed the refugium side.

Lastly light and controls mount will be a vertical lift so I ordered a bearing carriage and rails from LinTech motion.

 

[GK3]

I also decided to abandon the 80/20 idea for the frame for now. First, it was crazy expensive for what it was. Secondly, fiancé didn’t want it so industrial if it was going outside of my office. Lastly, I decided I could do an almost identical design out of wood but get it lower profile since I can cut things smaller than the 1”x1” 80/20.

 

[GK3]

First false walk is being printed. Got the pump, tank, and heater today to get the sizes right. 16 hour print.

 

[GK3]

Walls are printed and are currently being smoothed in a vapor.

Hopefully can get one dried and siliconed tonight.

 

[GK3]

First one is siliconed in place a drying.

Only two baffles, gray pieces are temporary.

Second one is vapor smoothed and drying.

Wine bottles work great for weight.

 

[GK3]

3D printed media holder after vapor smoothing.

 

[GK3]

first water test. Baffle in filter is a little too tall.

 

[GK3]

And now for some electronics.

 

[GK3]

This has obviously been slow moving. However - I have a working interface.

Nothing glamorous or flashy, but works quite well. I’ll be adding the rest of the buttons in the coming days.

 

[Young_Reefer]

I love this concept and have been pondering a similar build... I envision a 1-2 gallon pico that is all-in-one, similar to your design except with the electronics split between the stand and canopy. The main goal of mine would be to utilize one single power cord for lights/heating/ATO/100-200 gph pump/controller. I am in the conceptual phase though, so for now I am looking forward to following your build!

 

[GK3]

I love this concept and have been pondering a similar build... I envision a 1-2 gallon pico that is all-in-one, similar to your design except with the electronics split between the stand and canopy. The main goal of mine would be to utilize one single power cord for lights/heating/ATO/100-200 gph pump/controller. I am in the conceptual phase though, so for now I am looking forward to following your build!

Thanks for commenting. My original plan was to put the electronics above the lights all above the tank. However with 4 dosing pump heads, I was space limited so I decided to use the space behind the tank.

I built a 1 gallon tank a long time ago that had 1 power cord for lights, moonlights, pump, heater. My biggest regret was not making it two gallons. Unless you want this to sit on your work desk, where space is limited, I’d say bump it up from a gallon. Mine right now is almost exactly 5 gallons total volume with 1.5 gallon ATO res underneath.

I hope to have the whole design finalized this weekend. Will post pics then. Let me know if you start a build thread.

 

[GK3]

Well, got delayed again. But I have made some progress...

1. I ordered aluminum for which I will make the electronics enclsoure.
2. Here is a shot of the tank setup with panels in. Rought dimensions are 21.5" across, 22" tall and 14.125" deep.

3. Here is a shot with everything open. Hood up for maintenance and ATO res slid out for refilling. Opposite side of ATO res is the chamber for the dosing, it will have 3 parts. Slides out the same way.

 

[GK3]

Turned on the Wavepoint blade I ordered. I don't like the way it looks at all and I don't think it is powerfull enough. What do you guys think of for a light: Kessil Tuna Bue A80 or AI Prime HD? It will only mount 5" off the top of the tank and the tank is only 7" deep. I'd like to be able to put atleast 1 SPS coral in here. Input and idea are appreciated. Wifi enabled lights don't make a big difference to me since I am building my own controller.

 

[Young_Reefer]

The Kessil would be a good choice. I have it on a 3.7 g and I have several montis and two actors. They are doing well and I just keep them in the upper half of the tank (it is ~10 inches deep I think).

 

[GK3]

The Kessil would be a good choice. I have it on a 3.7 g and I have several montis and two actors. They are doing well and I just keep them in the upper half of the tank (it is ~10 inches deep I think).

Thanks. Decided to go kessil. Picked up the A80 today.